Which wristwatch for ~ US$250

[Adam]

I need to get a new watch. I've almost killed my Citizen Promaster and I want to get something new.

I toyed with the idea of spending around US$1k and getting a Tag Heuer, but I'm not mentally ready to spend that sort of money on a watch.

I want analogue & digital on the one watch. Preferably with extra features, kinda like this:



I know these are probably $500+ retail watches, but they sell very cheaply through watch dealers on eBay. I quite like this one, but it's a little too crowded. Maybe without all the Blue Angels stuff, it'd be nice. These particularly appeal, as they're powered by Solar energy.

But, there's always a better watch out there. Anyone in the watch game that can give me some advice or does someone have a great watch that they want to review for me? Thanks!

[bell]

citizens are nice........i've been checking out the new swiss brand watches, pretty nice too......if they'd only put a beer opener in one

[thrown_hammer]

I have a Tissot automatic. I love it. They are rumored to be the same people that make Movado watches.

[Bill Douglas]

spending around US$1k and getting a Tag Heuer

They are only $3 in Hong Kong, honestly, ask Mark.

[rcecale]

Adam,

I wear a few different Citizen watches (including the one you showed) and have been extremely happy with all of them. They have a nice feel....weighty, without being too heavy...and I receive a lot of compliments on them as well. You could do a lot worse than a Citizen. Check them out here

Randy

[Eric Coffey]

If you like the multi-fuction chrono pilot-style watches, you should definitely check out Chase-Durer. They seem to be well made, and not too expensive.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I have to disagree on the Citizens...I had my Navitimer [edit: That's a NaviHAWK. Breitling makes the Navitimer] only 2 years before the buttons stopped working reliably and it began re-setting itself at random (losing all of my timezone settings, etc.). My Seiko titanium kinetic is still trucking although the "winding" mechanism squeaks a bit. I don't abuse my watches at all--no water, no impacts, etc.

I have my heart set on a Longines titanium automatic chronograph but it's $1200+. I'm not ready for that type of commitment!

[jyl]

Here is a neat page of slide rule watches - I'd love some of these, maybe a Breitling Navitimeror a Sinn copy thereof.

http://www.biothinking.com/watch/sliderule.htm

[Adam]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I don't really have a $$$ limit, but I've gotta be sensible. I've just looked at the Chase-Durer and Tissot ranges. There's some nice watches out there that I hadn't even considered.

I'll keep looking for a while!

[cegerer]

Adam, if you want to do a little 'homework', spend some time on Time-Zone and consider buying used.

http://timezone.com

http://timezone.com/forum.aspx?forumId=salesc

There are sooo many nice watches out there. But a $500US limit would buy you a much, much nicer watch. Definitely buy a mechanical watch though!!!! Here's the latest addition to my collection (Look Ma, only 1 hand!). About $650US:



Lot's of other nice German watches here, BTW:

http://www.watchbuys.com/

[Sarah]

My husband has a Movado but it doesn't have any of the features you are looking for. In fact...it doesn't even have any numbers...just a black face, arms, two diamonds & was very spendy. He wanted it so that was the one I got him...but for the life of me...I can't use it to tell actual time unless I look at it very hard.

(as a side issue...he used to wear it all the time until I spilled a cosmo on him by accident and it got all over the watch. he took it into the jeweler who sent it out of the country for repair...it took months to get back).

[Adam]

Curt, I'll probably end up spending that sort of money anyhow.

I was just trying to start off at $250 and go from there.

[pwd72s]

Day to day? I wear a Seiko, bought in the late 80's. $200 or so then. It's quartz, thin, water resistant to 100 meters, and comfortable to wear. Unlike the 1940's gold Omega I just gave to Cindy, which is too "girly" for a guy to wear. Fugit...if it keeps time well, Timex or Seiko, or anything that works is the watch for me. As long as it doesn't attract muggers. why invite trouble just trying to look like Steve McQueen in the movie Lemans?

[ronin]

about five years ago, I took the plunge and bought a 1.5k Heuer. I've been very pleased with it and have absolutely no regrets. I have learned over the years to buy the best that I can reasonably afford. also, to justify the cost I simply divided the pruchase price by the number of years that I plan on owning the watch to arrive at the true cost of ownership. (with a few batteries and a service or two thrown into the equation, of course)

in the end you have to make the choice, but don't hesitate to spend the money if you can afford it. considering the quality of the purchase, you won't have any regrets.

[ronin]

Originally posted by pwd72s
.....As long as it doesn't attract muggers. why invite trouble just trying to look like Steve McQueen in the movie Lemans?

remember, bling doesn't attract muggers, vulnerable attitude does

[pwd72s]

6'3", 240...usually dress jeans & sweatshirt...and butt ugly, had my nose broken a time or two, may have broken one or two myself. "vulnerable attitude" ain't my bag...but neither is asking for it by dressing rich...if a mugger asks for my timex or seiko, I'll toss it to him. While he's playing catch, he may receive more than he thought. Or, I might run like hell, depending on the situation.

[dd74]

I have a Tag/Heuer - it's alright, but mine is old school (and very heavy steel). It looks very purposeful.

These days, the new T/Hs I've seen on the West Side or in Beverly Hills look like they belong on a guy's wrist who's driving one of those Lamborghini SUVs. Nasty gold stuff, diamonds, and funky bracelet-style bands. Real Gangster bling-bling.

Currently, I wear a St. Moritz Titanium. It's made in Canada, and super accurate, super light, non-scratch crystal, and, if you buy it via a Canadian watch store, it's US $200, I believe.

You should check those out.

Incidentally, I look at Rolexes now and then, just to humor myself. Well, I guess I humor myself pretty well. A regular 'ol Mariner Rolex costs as much as a good 3.2 engine!

[Isabo]

I love and appreciate fine mechanical watches and yes, in my crowd, they are a status symbol and a piece of ornamentation before they are a means of telling the time.
It's a bit like old 911s, Harleys and R gruppe. If you have to ask then you don't understand.
If all you want is the right time and some time functions, (stop watch, date etc) then imho buy a swatch, timex w.h.y. In my real world experience they are more reliable and accurate than the prestige brands as well as being cheaper to buy than the maintenance in a 3 year period of some of the prestige brands. But we appreciate Porsches here so...
If you appreciate fine workmanship and see the artistry in fine watches then LETS GO AND SPEND SOME MONEY!
My particular favourites (this week) are Franck Muller and Baume Mercier. If anyone wants to give me an early Xmas pressy I would like an IWC chronograph with a black face and a black crocodile strap. I think Patek Phillippe is still the top, but their latest offerings LOOK cheap I think. (Think of hand polished screws that are beautiful in themselves, needing a magnifying glass to appreciate and are inside the case anyway as well as contributing nothing to the timekeeping, functionality or reliability and you may appreciate where some of the purchase price goes! The rest, I expect goes in publicity)
I'll post pix of some of mine if I can borrow a digital camera

[cegerer]

This is another watch I would consider in the $500 range - the Fortis Flieger. Mechanical, unique face and quite large (40mm). You can probably pick one up on eBay or TimeZone for $400 or less.



Looks better with the leather band.

[pwd72s]

"It's a bit like old 911s, Harleys and R gruppe. If you have to ask then you don't understand. " -Isabo

Well, I like old 911's. I think Harleys are cool, and I'm a member of R Gruppe. But you know, I doubt I'll ever, even if I win a lottery, want to wear a watch worth 10 grand or more. You're right, I don't understand. An ex buddy wore a gold rolex. I'd just shake my head, wondering why he'd want to wear mugger bait that was heavy on the wrist and kept less accurate time than my then 10 year old Seiko...At least the Harley riders and old 911 folks are getting some performance with the "bling"...